Tripwire laid for imperious Barça

Bitter memory
Languishing in 14th place in the Primera División, Espanyol may feel that their table-topping neighbours played a part in their indifferent start to the season. Espanyol had envisaged loaning Barça's Javier Saviola for the season only to be thwarted in August when Sevilla FC were granted his services.

Winning start
Thus, when club president Daniel Sánchez i Llibre asked his side to get 2006 off to a winning start in the big city derby game, he may have been motivated by more than local pride. However, with Barça still setting a devastating pace in all competitions, Espanyol know they are up against it.

Show no fear
Coach Miguel Ángel Lotina is urging players to get beyond their fears and play for pride. "We're going to be brave against Barcelona this time," he said. "I prefer my players to show ambition even if we lose rather than seeing them running scared for the whole 90 minutes."

'A dream team'
Lotina's intention was "to make Barcelona suffer" but he was aware how hard that would be against Frank Rijkaard's star-studded side. "They are the team who play the best football in this championship," he said. "They are better than a dream team."

Local pride
Nonetheless, the crowd's hunger for a major scalp will provide Lotina's men with a boost on Saturday. "We need to avoid making mistakes and keep our concentration," he said. "It's a huge match. When we drew against Barça last year our fans celebrated more than they did when we qualified for the UEFA Cup."

Banana skin
UEFA Champions League contenders Barça may feel they have bigger fish to fry on the European stage, but Rijkaard has clearly identified the game against Espanyol as a potential banana skin for his side, who will be without Xavi Hernández, Rafael Márquez and possibly Santiago Ezquerro.

Unpredictable tie
"You never know what can happen in these sort of matches," said the Dutchman, whose side could potentially lose the leadership of the table to CA Osasuna if they stumble this weekend. "Espanyol are a team that organise themselves very well and have got a very good defence."

Espanyol hunger
That back line may be weakened by the absence of the injured David García, while midfielder Moisés Hurtado Pérez is suspended. However, if it comes down to pure desire, Espanyol may be the side that finally brings Barça's incredible run in all competitions to an equally dramatic end.